Slide assembly for a rack

ABSTRACT

A slide assembly for a rack includes a second slide member slidably connected to a first slide member, which includes a base at one end thereof; a first bracket fixedly connected to the first slide member, which includes a first supporting member corresponding to the base, the first supporting member having a slot thereon; an engaging member pivotally connected to the base, which includes an engaging portion having an engaging surface; an operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member; and a resilient member acting on the engaging member for providing a restoring force to the engaging member. When the first bracket is mounted to a rack, the engaging portion of the engaging member will be inserted through the slot of the first bracket and the engaging surface will engage with a surrounding surface of a hole of the rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slide assembly for a rack, and more particularly to a slide assembly which provides a quick engagement or disengagement with respect to a rack.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Racks are widely used nowadays. Many of them are used to computer servers for organizing everything in a limited space. Therefore, the rack must have sliding rails corresponding in number to the computer servers for doing maintenance, replacement or any other services easily.

A number of related techniques have been published and patented, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,549, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,041, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,884.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,549 to Mills et al, titled “Chassis retaining system for an electronics rack”, disclosed a panel of a chassis provided with a handle, a securing device with a retaining surface, and a user interface device connected to the handle and the retaining device to secure the rack in place by means of the retaining surface. The securing device is coupled to the handle, and the retaining surface is movable with respect to the handle. The handle is mounted to the panel of the chassis, which must align with the rack. It is required to use a specific type of handle. When pushing the chassis back into the rack, the retaining surface of the handle will be used to secure the chassis. This design requires the handle in a specific type and at a specific position of the chassis.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,041 to Abbott, titled “Snap system for retaining slide mounted rack system into multiple racks without tools”, disclosed a pair of protuberances at respective ends of a slide assembly to be inserted into holes of support posts of a rack to be secured thereat. The slide assembly comprises a pair of rails to be connected with an enclosure or a chassis. The enclosure or chassis also connects to a pair of snaps corresponding to the support posts of the rack. When pushing the enclosure or chassis back into the rack, if a user would like to have the enclosure or chassis secured on the rack, the snaps are used to engage with the support posts of the rack.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,884 to Chen et al, title “Latch assembly for a track device”, disclosed a slide assembly composed of a first track member and a second track member. The first track member is slidable with respect to the second track member. The first track member comprises a latch assembly at one end thereof. The second track member comprises a latch seat for the latch assembly to be locked therein. The latch seat may be mounted on a wall for the latch assembly to be locked therein. The aforesaid patents did not mention direct engagement or disengagement of the slide assembly with respect to the rack when pushing the chassis or enclosure back into the rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide assembly for a rack. The slide assembly is able to provide a quick engagement or disengagement with respect to a rack for extension or retraction of the slide assembly.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slide assembly for a rack, the rack comprising at least two frames having a plurality of holes thereon, the slide assembly comprising:

a first slide member comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;

a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide member, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to the second slide member;

a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of the first slide member, the first bracket comprising a first supporting member corresponding to the base of the second slide member, the first supporting member having a slot thereon;

an engaging member pivotally connected to the base of the second slide member, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, the engaging portion having an engaging surface;

an operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member; and

a resilient member acting on the engaging member for providing a restoring force to the engaging member;

wherein when the first bracket is mounted to the frames of the rack and the second slide member is retraced with respect to the first slide member, the engaging portion of the engaging member is inserted through the slot of the first bracket and one of the plurality of holes of the frames with the engaging surface engaging with a surrounding surface of the hole of the frames.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slide assembly, comprising:

a first slide member comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;

a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide member, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to the second slide member;

a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of the first slide member, the first bracket comprising a first supporting member corresponding to the base of the second slide member, the first supporting member having a slot thereon;

an engaging member pivotally connected to the base of the second slide member, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, the engaging portion having an engaging surface;

an operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member; and

a resilient member acting on the engaging member for providing a restoring force to the engaging member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rack apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of pairs of frames, each pair of frames having a plurality of holes, the plurality of pairs of frames forming a rack in a predetermined size;

a plurality of slide assemblies, each slide assembly comprising a first slide member, a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide member, a first bracket and a second bracket, the first slide member comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to the second slide member, the first bracket and the second bracket being fixedly connected to the first end and the second end of the first slide member, respectively, the first bracket and the second bracket of each slide assembly being mounted to each pair of frames of the rack, the first bracket comprising a first supporting member corresponding to the base, the first supporting member having a slot thereon;

a plurality of engaging assemblies, each engaging assembly comprising an engaging member pivotally connected to the base, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, an operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member, and a resilient member acting on the engaging member and providing a restoring force to the engaging member; and

at least one chassis, the chassis having two sides connected to the slide assemblies respectively and driven to slide along with the slide assemblies;

wherein the engaging portion of the engaging member is inserted through the slot of the first bracket and one of the plurality of holes of the rack with the engaging surface engaging with a surrounding surface of the hole of the frames.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing an engaging portion inserted through a slot of a first bracket of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention before mounting of a rack;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention with the rack mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention before locking;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in a locked status;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in a released status; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a slide assembly 2 comprises a first slide member 10, a second slide assembly 20, a first bracket 30, a second bracket 30a, and an engaging assembly 4.

The first slide member 10 comprises a first end and a second end opposite to the first end.

The second slide member 20 is slidably connected to the first slide member 10 either directly or indirectly. The second slide member 20 comprises a base 24. The base 24 comprises a pair of pivot ears 26 thereon. In this embodiment, the base 24 extends from one end 22 of the second slide member 20 and is perpendicular to the second slide member 20. The second slide member 20 is indirectly connected to the first slide member 10 by means of a third slide member 12 and slides along with the third slide member 12 in the first slide member 10. The slide assembly 2 is in the form of three-section. When the second slide member 20 is directly connected to the first slide member 10, the slide assembly 2 will be in the form of two-section. Since the two-section slide assembly is a conventional technique and will not be discussed hereinafter.

The first bracket 30 is fixedly connected to the first end of the first slide member 10. The first bracket 30 comprises a first supporting member 32 and a first positioning member 39. The first supporting member 32 corresponds to the base 24 of the second slide member 20.

The first supporting member 32 comprises a first connecting portion 34, a second connecting portion 36, and a slot 38 between the first connecting portion 34 and the second connecting portion 36.

The second bracket 30 a is fixedly connected to the second end of the first slide member 10. The second bracket 30 a comprises a second supporting member 32 a and a second positioning member 39 a. The second supporting member 32 s comprises a first connecting portion 34 a and a second connecting portion 36 a.

The engaging assembly 4 comprises an engaging member 40, a pivot member 50, an operating member 60, and a resilient member 70. The engaging member 40 comprises an engaging portion 42 in a hook shape. The engaging portion 42 has a flat engaging surface 44 and a guiding surface 46 adjacent to an edge of the engaging surface 44. The engaging portion 42 corresponds to the slot 38 of the first bracket 30. The operating member 60 is connected to the engaging member 40 for controlling movement of the engaging member 40.

Referring to FIG. 2, the engaging member 40 of the engaging assembly 4 is pivotally connected to the pair of pivot ears 26 and the resilient member 70 through the pivot member 50 so that the engaging member 40 is rotatable. The resilient member 70 acts on the engaging member 40 for providing a restoring force to the engaging member 40. In this embodiment, the resilient member 70 is a torsion spring located between the pair of pivot ears 26 of the base 24 of the second slide member 20.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted to a rack 80. The rack 80 comprises a first frame 82 a and a second frame 82 b spaced at a predetermined distance for connecting with the slide assembly 2. In this embodiment, both the first frame 82 a and the second frame 82 b of the rack 80 have a plurality of holes which are first holes 84 a, second holes 84 b, and third holes 84 c. The first and second ends of the first slide member 10 of the slide assembly 2 are fixedly connected to the first bracket 30 and the second bracket 30 a, respectively. The first connecting portion 34 and the second connecting portion 36 of the first bracket 30 correspond to the first hole 84 a and the third hole 84 c of the first frame 82 a of the rack 80, while the first connecting portion 34 a and the second connecting portion 36 a of the second bracket 30 a correspond to the first hole 84 a and the third hole 84 c of the second frame 82 b of the rack 80.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, when mounting the second bracket 30 a to the second frame 82 b of the rack 80, the first connecting portion 34 a and the second connecting portion 36 a are inserted into the first hole 84 a and the third hole 84 c of the second frame 82 b and the second positioning member 39 a holds against the second frame 82 b of the rack 80. When mounting the first bracket 30 to the first frame 82 a of the rack 80, the first connecting portion 34 and the second connecting portion 36 of the first bracket 30 are inserted into the first hole 84 a and the third hole 84 c of the first frame 82 a of the rack 80 and the first positioning member 39 holds against the first frame 82 a of the rack 80. When the second slide member 20 of the slide assembly 2 is fully retracted, the engaging portion 42 of the engaging member 40 will hook the second hole 84 b of the rack 80 to hold the rack 80 securely.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in a locked status. When the second slide member 20 is moved towards the first slide member 10, the engaging member 40 will be pushed forward through the slot 38 of the first bracket 30 and the second hole 84 b of the first frame 82 a of the rack 80, whereas the guiding surface 46 will move with the engaging portion 42 which leads the engaging member 40 to deflect its position and whereas the resilient member 70 provides a restoring force against the engaging member 40. When the second slide member 20 reaches to its closed position with respect to the first slide member 10, the engaging portion 42 of the engaging member 40 is extended through the second hole 84 b, and is urged by the resilient member 70 to return to its original position, therefore, the engaging surface 44 of the engaging member 40 is in touched with the surrounding surface of the second hole 84 b.

To release the locked position, as shown in FIG. 7, a user may use the operating member 60 to deflect the engaging member 40 which brings the engaging portion 42 to deflect and detach from the second hole 84 b, thus the second slide member 20 may be pulled away from the first slide member 10.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment with the exception described hereinafter. This embodiment comprises a plurality of frames, a plurality of slide assembles 2, a plurality of engaging assemblies 4, and at least one chassis 86.

The plurality of frames is composed of a first frame 82 a, a second frame 82 b, a third frame 82 c and a fourth frame 82 d to form a configuration of two pairs of frames 82 a, 82 b, and 82 c, 82 d. Each pair of the frames 82 a, 82 b or 82 c, 82 d are set at a predetermined distance and has a plurality of holes. The plurality of frames is assembled to form a rack 80 in a predetermined shape such as a square.

The first bracket 30 and the second bracket 30 a of each slide assembly 2 are mounted to the pair of frames 82 a, 82 b or 82 c, 82 d to maintain the rack 80 in a level status.

Each engaging assembly 4 comprises a resilient member 70 and an engaging member 40 which is urged by the resilient member 70 to restore its original position, thus the engaging member 40 may remain a locked position in the hole of the rack 80.

The chassis 86 has two sides connected with the slide assemblies 2, respectively, and is linked to move simultaneously. In this embodiment, the chassis may be a computer server or an electronic device. Therefore, the chassis 86 is able to slide inward or outward with respect to the rack 80.

The present invention does not restraint either the type or model of the chassis, nor the handle on the chassis. It also provides a locking function when the chassis is pushed into the rack. The bracket connected to the slide assembly doesn't need adding any parts for engagement of the engaging member. 

1. A slide assembly for a rack, the rack comprising at least two frames having a plurality of holes thereon, the slide assembly comprising: a first slide member comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide member, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to the second slide member; a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of the first slide member, the first bracket comprising a first supporting member corresponding to the base of the second slide member, the first supporting member having a slot thereon; an engaging member pivotally connected to the base of the second slide member, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, the engaging portion having an engaging surface; an operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member; and a resilient member acting on the engaging member for providing a restoring force to the engaging member; wherein when the first bracket is mounted to the frames of the rack and the second slide member is retraced with respect to the first slide member, the engaging portion of the engaging member is inserted through the slot of the first bracket and one of the plurality of holes of the frames with the engaging surface engaging with a surrounding surface of the hole of the frames.
 2. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first bracket comprises a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion to be inserted into two of the plurality of holes of the frames of the rack.
 3. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging surface is a flat surface and the engaging member comprises a guiding surface adjacent to an edge of the engaging surface.
 4. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide assembly further comprises a second bracket fixedly connected to the second end of the first slide member, the second bracket comprising a second supporting member, the second supporting member comprising a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion to be inserted into two of the plurality of holes of the frames.
 5. The slide assembly for a rack, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is formed by extending from one end of the second slide member.
 6. A slide assembly, comprising: a first slide member comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide member, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to the second slide member; a first bracket fixedly connected to the first end of the first slide member, the first bracket comprising a first supporting member corresponding to the base of the second slide member, the first supporting member having a slot thereon; an engaging member pivotally connected to the base of the second slide member, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, the engaging portion having an engaging surface; an operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member; and a resilient member acting on the engaging member for providing a restoring force to the engaging member.
 7. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a second bracket fixedly connected to the second end of the first slide member, the second bracket comprising a second supporting member, the second supporting member comprising a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion.
 8. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engaging surface is a flat surface and the engaging member comprises a guiding surface adjacent to an edge of the engaging surface.
 9. The slide assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base is formed by extending from one end of the second slide member.
 10. A rack apparatus, comprising: a plurality of pairs of frames, each pair of frames having a plurality of holes, the plurality of pairs of frames forming a rack in a predetermined size; a plurality of slide assemblies, each slide assembly comprising a first slide member, a second slide member slidably connected to the first slide member, a first bracket and a second bracket, the first slide member comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the second slide member comprising a base perpendicular to the second slide member, the first bracket and the second bracket being fixedly connected to the first end and the second end of the first slide member, respectively, the first bracket and the second bracket of each slide assembly being mounted to each pair of frames of the rack, the first bracket comprising a first supporting member corresponding to the base, the first supporting member having a slot thereon; a plurality of engaging assemblies, each engaging assembly comprising an engaging member pivotally connected to the base, the engaging member comprising an engaging portion corresponding to the slot of the first bracket, an operating member connected to the engaging member for controlling movement of the engaging member, and a resilient member acting on the engaging member and providing a restoring force to the engaging member; and at least one chassis, the chassis having two sides connected to the slide assemblies respectively and driven to slide along with the slide assemblies; wherein the engaging portion of the engaging member is inserted through the slot of the first bracket and one of the plurality of holes of the rack with the engaging surface engaging with a surrounding surface of the hole of the frames.
 11. The rack apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket comprise a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, respectively, to be inserted through four of the plurality of holes of the frames of the rack.
 12. The rack apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the engaging surface is a flat surface and the engaging member comprises a guiding surface adjacent to an edge of the engaging surface. 